In the Cheng'en Hall of the East Palace, which is quite the study room of an ordinary person, Yang Guang, who is taking a break from his busy schedule, is reading "Historical Records".
Yang Guang is only thirty-four years old this year. He is at the peak of his physical and mental strength as a man. His piercing eyes are shining. His body sitting cross-legged on the cushions is tall and strong. His robe is stretched to have sharp edges and corners. He has a strong sense of beauty. .
Previously, Yang Guang had been running the South in Yangzhou for nearly ten years, and had stabilized the old areas of the South where resistance was constant and the people were disaffected. His civil and military skills were obvious to all, and he also believed that he had the ability to control the entire Sui Dynasty.
However, his father had entrusted him with military and state affairs during this period, which also revealed many core secrets that were previously inaccessible to him.
At this moment, Yang Guang discovered that the Great Sui Dynasty was not as simple as he thought. The situation in the north was a hundred or a thousand times more complicated than that in the south.
There are many things that he needs to do. On the one hand, he has to handle military and state affairs on behalf of his father; on the other hand, he has to weigh, analyze, and figure out the situation of various factions.
His father told him not to be afraid of his ministers forming cliques. It would be unimaginable and weird if there were no factions in the court. The role of the emperor is to balance. The value of the emperor also lies in balancing the interests of all parties. Only by balancing the forces of all parties, can Only the various forces that need power and interests can rely on and obey the emperor, and the emperor can issue orders. Otherwise, the ministers will at least be obedient and the emperor's sunshine and rain will not reach the poor people. At worst, it will seriously affect the throne and rule.
Yang Guang did the same thing in Yangzhou. As long as he sorted out the composition of each faction and found the contradictions within each faction, he could target them.
It was just his father's arrangement for his fifth brother Yang Liang that made him confused.
The father was previously worried that he would not be able to control the fourth son Yang Xiu. He was afraid that when he took over the Sui Dynasty, the fourth son would secede Yizhou and become independent, so he dismissed Yang Xiu from his post as general manager of Yizhou and Shangshu Ling of Southwest Daoxingtai, and recalled him In the capital, he became an idle king of Shu. This is Mr. Yu.
Privately, his father was worried that once he was gone, there would be a human tragedy in the Yang family where brothers would kill each other. Because Yang Xiu had a large number of troops, he, Yang Guang, would inevitably become suspicious. Even if he firmly believed that his brother would not rebel, there would still be people trying to figure out his intentions. And take the opportunity to cause trouble. Similarly, if Yang Xiu doesn't take it easy, even if he himself has no intention of fighting for anything, how can his subordinates give up? The emperor's father now leaves Yang Xiu in Daxing to help Yang Guang eliminate unnecessary suspicion. It also eliminates Yang Xiu's wings and allows him to peacefully become the idle king of Shu.
Yang Guang can also understand this arrangement, which can be said to achieve multiple goals with one stone. But regarding the issue of the youngest Yang Liang, my father had also considered it in the past. A few days ago, he also said that he would transfer the youngest Yang Liang back to the capital. However, yesterday he suddenly changed his mind. Not only did he not recall him, but he was given several General, isn't this just helping Elder Yao become more powerful and encouraging him to rebel against himself?
His father just smiled and said that when he became emperor, he would understand what he meant. Yang Guang did not dare to ask any more questions. There is already a counter-insurgent force making trouble in Daxing City now. If the father thinks that he is not magnanimous to his brothers, he may not be the one who has the last laugh.
Not far from Yang Guang, sat his official wife Xiao. Xiao's real name was Xiao Wan, and her nickname was Meiniang. She was the daughter of Xiao Kui, Emperor Xiaoming of the Western Liang Dynasty. She was graceful, graceful, dignified and quiet. A noble temperament.
Xiao Wan lives up to her name and has a gentle and gentle personality.
She and Yang Guang have been living together for nearly twenty years, and they have two sons and one daughter. They have a deep relationship with each other. Yang Guang dotes on Xiao Wan very much. He hardly gets close to other women. On the contrary, Xiao Wan is the son of her husband who is already the prince. Too few, which is not good for inheritance, so I reluctantly persuaded him to take a concubine.
However, Yang Guang took his parents as an example, and he had the merit of vindicating Chen Shubao. Chen Shubao's begging for mercy at that time left a deep impression on him. While he despised Chen Shubao, he also had a strong sense of worry, and regarded Chen Shubao as his Quit.
Especially now when facing complex military and national affairs, I feel that time is very precious. Chen Liangdi and Wang Liangdi, who were brought home before, were only out of political needs. After arriving at the house, they almost became decorations. Now they are even less willing to waste time on enjoyment.
Xiao Wan was using a small roller to skillfully grind cardamom, salt cubes, peppercorns, spices, and tea balls into gray powder. After boiling them with boiling water, she added a small spoonful of mutton oil and a small spoonful of goat milk. Stir well and it becomes a bowl of tea soup. After the foam had dissipated, he handed the tea bowl to his husband.
Yang Guang picked up the tea bowl, took a sip, and said with admiration: "The tea you made is the best for me..."
Xiao Wan smiled and said: "You, Zhao'er and Jie'er also think it's good. I remember the first time King Kong Slave drank it, he sprayed it all over your face. He only used boiling water to make tea, and no other condiments were used. This way The tea soup also has a unique flavor."
Yang Guang said disdainfully: "That boy also washed it once for me. The clear soup was watery and tasted terrible, so I sprayed it all over his face."
"Did Erlang do it on purpose?" Xiao Wan said with a half-smile.
"Am I so stingy? His tea soup has no oil or salt and is very tasteless." Yang Guang put down the tea bowl and asked with a smile: "Is your brother still unwilling to betroth Xiao Ying to the Vajra slave?"
Xiao Wan nodded: "Eldest brother said that Vajra slave and little sister are not compatible."
When Yang Guang heard this, he snorted: "Idiot."
Xiao Wan froze on the spot and looked at Yang Guang in disbelief.
"I'm not scolding you, I'm talking about your brother Xiao Cong." Yang Guang explained with a slight embarrassment, and then said: "I don't want to be angry if you don't mention this incompatibility. When you mention this, I want to scold you." Those wooden brothers of yours. Just because they were stupid, they almost ruined a good marriage."
Xiao Wan glared at Yang Guang and said angrily: "Is what the Prime Minister said wrong?"
"Of course there is a mistake, and it is a big mistake! In order to destroy this marriage, someone bribed the fortune tellers in the city. Whenever the Vajra slave's name and birthday appeared, they would tell lies. Not only that, but they also secretly smeared the King Kong Slave, let your Xiao family believe that King Kong Slave is a heinous bastard." Yang Guang said angrily and funny: "It is these people who are causing trouble, which has caused my aunt to still not be able to find her daughter-in-law, and she almost went crazy with worry. ”
"How is that possible?" Xiao Wan looked at her husband in surprise.
Yang Guang snorted coldly and said, "What's impossible?"
Xiao Wan murmured: "Is there someone plotting against my little sister?"
"Come on!" Yang Guang sneered and said quite proudly: "No matter how good the reputation of the Lanling Xiao family is, it is just yesterday's flowers. What's the point? If someone wants to take advantage of your little sister, the promises of the two governors If you can get it, why go to such trouble? They are after our Yang family’s Vajra slaves.”
The historical background is a flaw of the Yang family. Although Yang Jian regards himself as the Hongnong Yang family, Yang Zhong, Yang Jian's father, is actually just a poor scholar among the Han people in Shandong. Because of Yuwentai's order to return to Guanzhong, he attached himself to the Hongnong Yang family. At the same time, he also Li Hu attached himself to the Li family in Longxi, Li Bi attached himself to the Li family in Zhaojun, and Pei Bofeng attached himself to the Pei family... Seeing that these high-ranking and powerful people came to their doorsteps, the various nobles were happy to recognize this relative, and faced Genealogy is just a piece of cake. In a wealthy family, this is no secret.
Compared to the Yang family, the Xiao family of Lanling, where Xiao Wan was born, is truly a thousand-year-old family and a top-notch family. Although the Xiao family was born in the Southern Dynasties and was not listed among the top families in the world by Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty, Xiao's family background and nobility are None of the surnames are inferior to those of the Five Surnames and Seven Sects. The current head of the family is Xiao Wan, the eldest brother and the last emperor of Western Liang, Xiao Cong.
Although Yang Guang is not so boring as to compare his family background with his beloved wife, when he talks about "our Yang family's vajra slaves", he is confident, as if he has won once.
"So what do you mean?" Xiao Wan is a smart woman. Naturally, she will not expose her husband's complacency, but asks matter-of-factly.
"In my Sui Dynasty, there were only six princes: Shu, Han, Cai, Teng, Wei, and Dao. All of them were extremely noble. The first four were already married, and Prince Dao's brother was also engaged, but Prince Wei was the most favored by Aye. There is no engagement. If it weren't for other noble girls of the same generation who are of high rank and suitable age, those Guanlong nobles might have gone to the palace to rob people." Yang Guang said: "Auntie is looking for the Xiao family because she looks down on the fallen Xiao family. But your eldest brother foolishly believed the lies of the stranger and pushed him away, what else is he to be a fool?"
"Who has such a great ability? He can actually make everyone in the city lie."
As Yang Guang said, the Xiao family's position in the Sui Dynasty was indeed rather embarrassing. The reason was that the Xiao family was not as detached as the five northern surnames during the war period, but directly participated in the world's disputes. When the Xiliang Kingdom was destroyed, the world's famous families were worried When the Sui Emperor would liquidate the "remnants" of the Western Liang Dynasty, he did not want to have a close relationship with the Xiao family. Although the current situation of the Xiao family is not as embarrassing as that of the Nanchen royal family, it is not much better.
In order to help her mother's family get out of trouble and return to the world's famous family, Xiao Wan not only fully agreed with the marriage, but also helped connect Dugu Min and her sister-in-law; if the Yang Xiao family accomplishes good things again, it will not only tie Yang Guang and Yang Ji firmly together , and can also deepen the relationship between the Yang and Xiao families. But the final "incompatibility" became an obstacle that couldn't be overcome.
"I have no conclusive evidence, so I can't tell you nonsense, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble!" Yang Guang pondered for a moment, and then said: "But it is very abnormal that there are so many ladies from famous families, all of whom are not compatible with Vajra slaves. Now. We will wait and see what happens. As long as we see someone taking the initiative to propose marriage to King Wei, and the girl from that family matches the horoscope of King Kong Nu, then this person is the one who is trying to ruin the good things of the Yang and Xiao families."
"I know who it is!" Xiao Wan suddenly said.
Yang Guang asked warily: "Who?"
"Qi Guogong Gao Jiong!" Xiao Wan saw her husband looking over and explained quickly: "The eldest sister told me about this matter the day before yesterday. She said that Gao Gong came to the door in person and hoped that she could make an offer to facilitate this marriage."
"Sure enough, it's him." Yang Guang stood up suddenly and said with a gloomy face: "Does he have to force our Yang family to kill each other?"
Xiao Wan advised softly: "Things may not be as you think. The most important thing is to do what the prince should do."
Yang Guang sighed: "Having said that, the power of these Xiaoxiao is beyond your knowledge."
Xiao Wan didn't want to get too involved in the disputes between men. After a long silence, she changed the topic back to the original topic: "Erlang, since someone sabotaged the marriage of King Kong Slave, then the little girl should be his good match, right?"
She knew that her husband's biggest disadvantage was that he became the crown prince too late. His power in the court was far inferior to that of Yang Yong, who had been the crown prince for nearly twenty years. Although Yang Yong was banned from the palace, others could do it as long as they used Yang Yong's name. He can do a lot of things without him having to show up. Without the full support of his father, it would be difficult for the husband with a weak foundation to secure the position of prince.
Now that he heard that this marriage had turned around, he immediately wanted to help her husband stabilize Yang Ji.
"Look!" Yang Guang took out four neatly folded papers from his arms and handed them to Xiao Wan.
"What is this?" Xiao Wan took the paper in confusion.
Yang Guang said: "In order to verify my guess, I sent someone to give the birth dates of Vajra Nu and your little sister to Zhangqiu Taiyi, Qi Hui, Xie Hong, and Seng Can. These are the birth dates they approved."
Hearing this, Xiao Wan quickly opened the first piece of paper. On it were the birthdates of Yang Ji and Xiao Ying, as well as the judgment given by Zhangqiu Taiyi. Although there were no words such as "a match made in heaven" or "a good match", there were no "horoscopes" for mutual restraint or disaster. Words about family and family misfortune. Some are just ordinary notes that the marriage between the two is a very normal good relationship.
The judgments written by Qi Hui, Xie Hong, and Seng Can are also very similar.
"This is really..." Xiao Wan looked at her husband with a bitter smile, not knowing what to say.
"Zhangqiu Taiyi, Qihui, and Xie Hong are Taoist priests, and Sengcan is a monk. These four people are Taoist and Buddhist masters respectively. Not only do they have clear names, but they also live in separate areas. The four of them did not expect that I would go to them at the same time. , so their judgment comes completely from the heart. In other words, the words criticized by the philistine Daxing City Prime Minister are simply nonsense." Yang Guang said lightly: "And Gao Jiong just has the ability to make the whole city talk nonsense."
The reason why Yang Guang investigated this matter was entirely caused by the hot-tempered Dugu Min.
It stands to reason that with Yang Ji's current status, there is almost no guessing about his future.
Yang Guang didn't believe that a famous family would ignore the fact that Yang Ji had a promising future and great value because of Yang Ji's youthful temper. Even if there were famous families who were indifferent to fame and wealth, that wouldn't be the whole story. But the real problem is that Dugu Min has been busy for nearly a year and cannot find a daughter-in-law.
Yang Guang immediately suspected that someone was causing trouble behind the scenes, or even a powerful person who could suppress famous families in the world. This suspicion also made him pay attention to it, and secretly sent someone to investigate, and sure enough, the clues were found.
Now that we know it was Gao Jiong who caused the trouble, it is easier to handle.
"Then, what should we do now?" Xiao Wan knew that this was no longer just a marriage, but also related to the stability of her husband's status.
"Of course we have to facilitate this." When Yang Guang said this, he suddenly smiled: "Aye and Uncle Yao are brothers like father and son. Vajra Nu and I are similar to them. If our brothers also have a brother-in-law relationship, then what? It’s an identical story.”
Xiao Wan laughed in surprise: "You are so competitive, how can you even compete with Aye?"
Yang Guang glanced at his beloved wife strangely, as if he found her words unbelievable: "If I don't have the desire to win, how can I, the Sui Dynasty, go further? If I don't have the ambition and ability of Master Qiang to win over my ancestors, how can I fight for this?" What's the point of being the crown prince? Since Aye has chosen me, I will naturally build an unprecedentedly powerful Sui Empire."
Xiao Wan was unknowingly infected by her husband's ambition, with a pair of phoenix eyes like waves; she felt like what could a woman ask for when her husband was like this.
At this time, a handsome and burly young guard came to the door, raised his hands and saluted: "The last general, Yao Junsu, meets the crown prince and crown princess."
"What's the matter?" Yang Guang raised his head and asked.
Yao Junsu cupped his hands and replied: "The saint sent someone to send you a memorial."
"Is the memorial in Lizheng Hall or Chongwen Hall?" Yang Guang stood up and asked.
"Chongwen Palace!"
"I understand." Yang Guang walked out of the hall, arrived at the door, and told Xiao Wan: "Meiniang, show this sentence to your brother tomorrow, and then go find your aunt."
"Here." Xiao Wan bowed slightly.
